Before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people, with up to 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. having a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder.
The stringent measures we took to mitigate against the COVID-19 virus has had all kinds of unintended consequences. For mental health. For the economy. For our cities. And especially for children and youth. Nearly two years of disruption has taken a toll, worsening mental health, particularly for people of color from low-income families.
The amount of stress, personal trauma, economic and learning loss, and continued uncertainty that adolescents and teens are experiencing is unprecedented. In December, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy issued a rare public advisory that outlined concerns of a sharp rise in anxiety and depression among young people. The advisory states: “In the school setting, governments should invest in building a pipeline of counselors, nurses, social workers, and psychologists”.
In this brief video, Patti Christensen LCSW shares insights on the issues currently facing students in the schools where we provide onsite mental health counseling. If your child is in need of help, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Intake Counselors by calling us at 760.741.2660 Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
